DETERMINANTS OF ATTITUDE TOWARDS VIOLENCE AMONG UNDERGRADUATES IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN IBADAN, OYO STATE.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1            Background To The Study

Several studies have emerged on undergraduates unrest in the tertiary institution affecting the smooth running of academic in both private and  public higher institutions in Nigeria Adeyemi, et al., (2010), but articles on the determinants of attitude towards violence among undergraduates  in tertiary institutions have been hitherto hardly considered in academic literature. However, the trend of undergraduates’ violence being accompanied with attendant massive destruction of property is a source of concern to academic advancement in Nigeria Makinde, (2014) and it is yet to be explored in literature. Thus, this study is conceived to address this gap in knowledge with a focus on Universities in Oyo State, South-West Nigeria as the rate at which undergraduates in the tertiary institutions indulge in violent demonstrations against their fellow students and management of their institutions is becoming worrisome to many stakeholders, especially parents, who perceived universities as a solution to the moribund education system in Nigeria Makinde, (2014).  Moreover, the increase in intensity of the menace and the way it spread from one university to others in a short interval could be regarded as a bad signal to the challenged education system in Nigeria Omonijo et al., (2014).

Omonijo et al., (2014) stressed that this dangerous phenomenon has been as a result of childhood exposure to maltreatment at infancy stage, vengeance, anger and emotional stability and it may be very difficult to access quality education in Nigeria in the foreseeable future, because the sector could become worse Akpan, (2014), where violence and instability of academic calendar, high level of indiscipline, loss of lives and destruction of properties appear to be the order of the day.

Therefore, there is no gainsaying the importance of and the need for a study of this nature in the higher education in Nigeria. Apart from its academic value, the study could provide a clue towards curtailing the emerging undergraduates’ attitude towards violence. The fact that a study of this nature has never been explored in literature in the past could make it very significant from the Nigerian perspective as violence is a multifaceted phenomenon regarding its displays and causes as well as its meanings and functions in the social, psychosocial and pedagogical fields. Concerning its displays, Amado and Freire (2009) believed that the major situations are framed in what they point out as the first level of violent and which are those incidents of disruptive nature whose disturbance affects the good classroom or lecture hall functioning.

  The incidents that might be framed in the second and third levels are, vengeance, anger, conflicts among peers and conflicts within lecturers –student relationship which might be taken on proportions of violence and even delinquency.

The problem of violence according to Yaroson (2004) permeates all facets of the life of man and has brought man down to the knees. He opine that violence and anger are little madness that destroy more than what caused it.  Tertiary institutions discipline according to Gaustard (2005) has two main objectives.

The first is to ensure the safety of staff and students and the second to create an environment conducive to learning. Acts of indiscipline occasioned by undergraduates misconducts, anger, vengeance,  and violence defeat the goals of education. The problem of violence affects all undergraduates irrespective of gender and sex though the degree and magnitude vary from school to school. Lecturers most prominently feel disempowered to deal with cases of undergraduates’ attitudes towards violence because of lack of support from relevant authorities, political interference and an incapacitated school administration. Acts of violence among undergraduates in tertiary institutions, if allowed to incubate under current conditions could hatch a monster that will be difficult to exterminate Idu & Ojedapo (2011).

 

1.2            Statement Of The Problem

The main thrust of this study is the origin and determinants attitude towards violence among undergraduates in tertiary institutions in Ibadan, Oyo State and the implications it portends on educational development in Nigeria.  It also hinges on doctrines guiding the activities of tertiary institutions which students may not want to align with, but are very germane to the actualization of the vision of these tertiary institutions, as well as the success of students in attendance. Undergraduates are often described both as the wealth and pride of a nation. The future of any nation therefore depends on the young ones (undergraduates) who constitute the potential human resources needed for the continuity of the society. Thus, to achieve sustainable development of a society, the undergraduates’ population must not only be preserved but also disciplined as violence among undergraduates in the tertiary institutions has been over time an issue of concern for educators, policy makers and public opinion in general, owing to the outbreak of aggressiveness among peers, vengeance, violence within lecturers–students relationship leading to perpetual existence of problem of drop out, deviant behaviours and poor academic performance among students.

 

1.3            Objectives of The Study

The  general  objective  of  this  study  is  to  investigate  the determinants of  attitude towards violence among   undergraduates in tertiary institutions in Ibadan, Oyo State. 

The specific objectives of the study are as follows:

Ø To investigate the determinants of attitude towards violence among undergraduates

Ø To identify if there is a correlation between childhood exposure to maltreatment and violence among undergraduates in tertiary institutions

Ø To identify if gender and sex also contribute to violence among undergraduates in tertiary institutions

Ø To know if emotional stability and anger can cause violence among undergraduates in tertiary institutions

Ø To identify common causes of violence acts among undergraduates

Ø To identify prevalent violence among undergraduates in the tertiary institutions

Ø To identify other possible ways violence acts can be reduced or eradicated among undergraduates in the tertiary institutions.

Ø To proffer solution at the end of the study 

For Complete material (chapter one to five), visit www.researchshelf.com